[SEXUAL ORIENTATION]

I'm out of here. (<- tl;dr)

Over time it became obvious to me that the poison in the theming community wasn't SM4, wasn't even the public we like to blame, but rather something in many themers themselves: the notion that your work requires some type of mass approval to be worthwhile.

First, SM4: I was initially against it because I thought it was the source of the problem, as it divided the themers into discrete groups, and the public audience as well. In a sense it's a contributor, but I recognize now the effort to create a solid new engine and if people want to use it, that's cool. I think people should keep both versions on hand so that we don't forget the rich history of 3.9, but feel free to do whatever you want.

Second, the public: I was convinced, then, that the public's failure to recognize the potential of certain themes and themers was the problem. But it became clear that it wouldn't be an issue if, to themers, their opinion was largely irrelevant.

Which brings me to the core problem: the need for mass approval.

It's something I've never really cared about. For one reason or another, though, I've been one of the more attention-drawing themers around. This led to a fair amount of jealousy on the part of other themers, and that in turn to a perhaps-unconscious smear campaign to paint my themes as simple, unoriginal recolors and therefore unworthy of existence in the public domain.

Now, even if they were, the baseline is my work from scratch, so there would be nothing unethical about it if I really did just recolor everything and release again. It's one thing to modify others' themes, but your own--there's really no (moral) issue.

But perhaps more importantly--you're really ignoring the fact that a lot of work DOES go into these. You're labeling innovation as new features, cramming tons of information onto every screen, using aspects of the SM engine previously unseen. And yes, those things are innovative. But it doesn't mean that innovation doesn't exist within the realm of pure aesthetics, and if you think my work has remained the same quality visually over the years, you have got to be blind.

But enough of that. It's obvious that this notion is incorrect and that it persists despite that implies to me that clearing my name is impossible. Add to that a single previous unethical action and it's cemented, k//eternal is a crappy themer for life.

And you know what? If people want to think that, go ahead. I just don't want any part of it. The notion that a good theme is one that panders to the masses is incorrect and causes all the problems you see now. Everyone should just be making the theme that they themselves would want to use. That's really the best kind.

AJ, I hope you finally make something you like someday, and stop beating yourself up when stuff is underappreciated.

Katze, I hope you become the respectable themer that I remember again, because I can't stand that asshole who's taken his place.

Everyone else, well, I'd like to say it's been a fun ride, but really, this whole ordeal sucked the fun out of theming, or I'd still be going at it.


If you think saying something will change my mind, well, go ahead and delude yourself for a while. Honestly, it's just not a fun thing to do anymore, and with my recent workload, it's irrational to spend so much time on something that's become a simple chore. Given that, even if it sparks my interest again someday, I'll just keep it to my site, away from both the slander and the generic compliments.

And if you're one of those themers who's secretly fapping to this, thinking "Good riddance", well, congratulations. You're the cancer that's killing the SM theming community. Open your eyes and see that there's more than one way to skin a dancing game.

I'm not really the drama queen type, so yeah, this is it. See you, space cowboy.